Examination of the Relationships Among Social Networks and Loneliness on Health and Life Satisfaction in People with Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction

Sander L Hitzig; Stephanie R Cimino; Mohammad Alavinia; Rebecca L Bassett-Gunter; B Catharine Craven; Sara J T Guilcher

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2021.03.030

Examination of the Relationships Among Social Networks and Loneliness on Health and Life Satisfaction in People with Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Nov;102(11):2109-2116.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.03.030. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Authors

Sander L Hitzig¹, Stephanie R Cimino², Mohammad Alavinia³, Rebecca L Bassett-Gunter⁴, B Catharine Craven⁵, Sara J T Guilcher⁶

Affiliations

¹ St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario; Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. Electronic address: sander.hitzig@sunnybrook.ca.
² Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
³ Neural Engineering & Therapeutics Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario; Division of Physiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
⁴ School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario.
⁵ Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Neural Engineering & Therapeutics Team, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario; Division of Physiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
⁶ Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 33932359
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.03.030

Abstract

Objective: To examine the associations among social networks and loneliness on health and life satisfaction in adults with chronic spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D).

Design: Cross-sectional telephone survey study.

Setting: Tertiary spinal cord injury rehabilitation center in Ontario, Canada.

Participants: Community-dwelling adults with chronic SCI/D (N=170).

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures were the Short-Form 36 to assess health and the Life Satisfaction-11 to assess life satisfaction.

Results: A hierarchical regression model predicting physical health accounted for 24% (P<.001) of the variance. The only social network variable to significantly contribute to the model was having a higher proportion of network members living in one's household (P<.05). A model predicting mental health accounted for 44% (P<.001) of the variance, with having a higher proportion of network members living in one's household (P<.05) and lower feelings of loneliness (P<.001) associated with better mental health. Finally, the model predicting life satisfaction accounted for 62% (P<.001) of the variance, with lower greater levels of social network intimacy (P<.01) and lower feelings of loneliness (P<.001) being significant predictors.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of having access to network members in one's home for better physical and mental health after SCI/D as well as the negative association between loneliness and mental health and life satisfaction. There is a need for approaches to ensure that people with SCI/D in the community feel supported to mitigate feelings of loneliness to optimize their health and wellbeing.

Keywords: Cross-sectional studies; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Social isolation; Social support; Spinal cord injuries.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Status*
Humans
Loneliness / psychology*
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Ontario
Personal Satisfaction*
Physical Therapy Modalities
Quality of Life
Rehabilitation Centers
Residence Characteristics
Sex Factors
Social Networking*
Socioeconomic Factors
Spinal Cord Injuries / psychology*
Spinal Cord Injuries / rehabilitation